RTR-X4 Radio Telemetry Receiver

RTR-X4 Radio Telemetry Receiver

Introduction

The Cortex RTR-X4 is the latest generation of RTR Radio Telemetry Receiver from Safran Data Systems. Based on the famous Cortex architecture, is the worldwide acclaimed COTS integrated telemetry receiver. This new release strengthens the RTR's position as the most advanced digital telemetry receiver on the market.

Thanks to its new modular architecture, the 4U chassis-based Cortex RTR-X4 can support up to four channels in IF, CIF, P, L, S and C bands, allowing multiple carrier reception and combination.

Its powerful RF front end features an outstanding 110 dB-dynamic linear AGC and an unmatched adjacent channel rejection with 8 SAW filters.

The redesigned GUI gives the operator a state of the art and very intuitive approach in set-up and monitoring (one touch mission loading, visual block diagram representation, Eye Diagrams & Spectrum Viewer displays …)

Thanks to its FPGA-based architecture, the RTR-X4 empowers the user with a long-term provision for supporting higher bit rates, new demodulation or Ethernet format interface through simple on-site software upgrades. Moreover, spare PCI slots can be used for future hardware upgrades like the add-on of C-band module for the S to C-band transition.

Description

The Cortex RTR-X4, the world recognized telemetry receiver supporting any type of telemetry reception in P-, C-IF, L-, S- and C-band and up to 4 channels is used for both high dynamics tracking and telemetry.

Careful filtering design and state of the art signal acquisition allows the RTR-X4 to have an excellent adjacent channel rejection, better AGC regulation and high dynamics (>90dB). One direct consequence is its capacity to maintain auto-track of the tracking antenna much further as the AGC and AM signals can be retrieved at a lower SNR.

Not only does the RTR-X4 features a choice of 29 IF filters (from 3kHz to 40MHz), but customized filters can also be implemented by firmware upgrade to better fit the customer specific application.

In addition to a high-performance pre-D combiner (available in Frequency and Polarization diversity) and post-D combiner, the Cortex RTR-X4 features a multi-mode demodulator (FM, PM, AM, BPSK, QPSK, SOQPSK, Multi-symbol FM, Multi-h CPM, subcarriers, STC and even COFDM, the waveform being activated by firmware upgrade).

The RTR-X4 also features real time spectrum, eye pattern and constellation diagram display for all channels while demodulating, three 30 Mbps bit synchronizers, fully configurable set of outputs and inputs. Tape down conversion is also available as per the IRIG recommendations.

The Cortex RTR-X4 includes very sensitive multi-mode demodulators (in terms of BER and locking threshold) as well as very short (re)acquisition time following a signal loss. It offers also all the error correction modes used in telemetry, i.e. Viterbi, Reed-Solomon, Turbo-codes and LDPC, and can provide Data Quality information to a Best Source Selector using the DQE/DQM scheme as specified in IRIG 106.

A special option on the RTR-X4 allows the pre-d combining of two IF 70MHz signals played back from the Cortex RSR into the RTR-X4 along with their digital AGC signals.

Finally, the Cortex RTR-X4 has the capacity to frame synchronize the telemetry data and then distribute on Ethernet (TCP-IP or UDP) the synchronized telemetry data time stamped with the IRIG-B time. The output format could be a proprietary SAFRAN DATA SYSTEMS format (however widely used by different decommutation software) or as per IRIG 106 chapter 10 standard or IRIG 218-20 standard. Then, a telemetry processing software such as SAFRAN DATA SYSTEMS eZ Processing, running on a COTS PC computer, can be used to process and extract the parameters.

Key Features

  • NEW Optional RF & PCM Recording: Up to 4 x 40 MHz bandwidth for RF.

  • NEW Embedded multicoupler on the Quad receiver: Only two inputs for LHCP and RHCP.

  • NEW Full Band Visibility: Spectrum analysis of the whole telemetry band.

  • NEW Test Signal Generator: With both internal and external signal for short and long loop.

  • Single, Dual, Quad: Full Flexibility of Configurations.

  • EQ+: => DQM/QDE: Embedded Data Quality Metrics / Encapsulation compatible with BSS.

  • CH. 10 Output: => EQ+: Adaptive Equalizer for all Modulations, on Video and PCM Outputs.

  • CH.10 OUTPUT: Easy and Modern UDP Data Spreading.

  • 8.4 Inch Screen: Intuitive GUI, Keyboard & Trackball for Easy Direct Control.

  • Remote Control: Same Intuitive GUI reachable through TCP-IP.

Ground Telemetry Product Menu : Comtrack Antenna - Tri-Band Feed - Sparte Antenna - RTR-X1 - RTR-X4 - BSS - RSR - GMDR - TM Maestro Software

For more technical details, contact a member of the team at Photo-Sonics International Ltd.

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